Page 28 of Houston, We Have a Problem
I hate that there’s nothing I can do to stop her from burrowing. I hate more that seeing her is starting to feel familiar, like I’ve seen her more often than these couple of interactions we’ve had. I can picture her lurking everywhere I go, waiting for me to slip up somehow. How did she get in my head so easily? Our interview only lasted a minute.
“Enjoy your night,” I say, not meaning a word, and then I turn to return to my waiting family. Only, Jordan is right behind me, wrapping an arm around me and giving me a look that says he’s up to no good.
“Are you going to introduce me to your friend, Houston?” he says. He knows exactly who Tamlin is, and he sounds far too amused right now.
Tempted to slip out of his hold and walk away, I’m all too aware of the way my family is watching this exchange. Kit, especially, seems to have taken an interest, and I don’t like the way he’s glancing between Tamlin and me like he sees something there.
There’s nothing there. Absolutely not.
“Jordan,” I grunt and nod toward Tamlin behind me. “Tamlin Park. Tamlin, my friend Jordan.”
“I didn’t realize you have friends,” Tamlin says with a laugh.
“Don’t even start,” I snap. “You know nothing about me.”
“Who’s fault is that? I’m not the one who walked away from our interview.”
I hate that she’s right. And I especially hate that her whole demeanor has changed now that Jordan is here. When I look back at her, she’s relaxed and smiling, all traces of the predator gone. In its wake is a woman who looks like she’s out for a good time with friends. The one I saw in the press tentbefore she set her sights on me.
I hate everything about tonight.
Jordan looks from me to Tamlin, his grin growing by the second. “Well, Tamlin, we’re in need of a teammate.”
My stomach drops. “No.”
Jordan ignores me. “Turns out it’s trivia night, and Briggs here is one of our reigning champs.”
Tamlin’s excitement is palpable; I can’t decide if it’s because she can see my horror clear as day or because she is interested in the trivia game. “Is that so?” she says, slipping from her stool to stand next to us. I have no idea how she moves in those heels, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen her without at least four inches added to her height. Maybe, if she went with a more natural look, athletes would be more inclined to talk to her.
She would also have to stop tearing us down for that to happen, but that is wishful thinking.
“You really don’t want to play,” I tell her.
I know her answer before she opens her mouth. “No, I think I really do.”
I try one last tactic, though I know I’ve already lost. “The questions get pretty out there sometimes. There’s no junior league.”
Fire flashes in her eyes, which are somehow still unnaturally blue even in the dim lighting on this end of the bar. “I have a double degree in psychology and communications,” she says sharply. “Throw in my Master of Investigative Journalism, and I’m pretty sure I can hold my own. Let’s go.”
That’s…impressive, though I’ll never admit that out loud. I can’t hold back the question that jumps out of my throat as Jordan leads us back to our table where Brook is waiting for us. “Why would you settle for sports?”
Her eyes glitter as she slides into her chair next to Jordan like we’ve done this a hundred times. “Because I like them, Briggs.”
Kit leans over the edge of the booth wall that separates my team from his. “We’ve already made the wager, Briggs. Losers have to wear a Halloween costume of the winners’ choosing.”
“I look forward to seeing you in action,” I reply. Then I turn to Tamlin. “You’d better not make us lose, Ginger Snap.”
Her face shifts to the most natural expression I’ve seen her make around me, a mixture of amusement and confusion. “Ginger Snap?”
It sounds stupid now, but sure. I lean across the table, getting as much in her face as I can with the table between us. “You may look sweet,” I say, “but you’ve got an impressive bite.”
She clearly thinks my metaphor is stupid, but she leaves it alone, turning instead to Brook and holding out her hand. “I’m Tamlin.”
“Brooklyn. Houston’s twin sister. Thanks for helping us complete our team.”
“Now I know who got all the politeness in the twinship.”
Brook snorts a laugh and glances over at me, and it’s clear she is already on Tamlin’s side. I have no idea how Tamlin did that so easily when she’s so awful to me for no reason. “Don’t mind Hou,” Brook says. “He’s been grumpy lately, so it’s not you.”
